David Flower
Dailysports's expert
Sheffield Wednesday
Middlesbrough
One of the matches of the 44th round of the Championship will be played on Monday at Hillsborough, where the local Sheffield Wednesday will host Middlesbrough. I suggest betting on the outcome of this clash with a good odds.
Match preview
Sheffield Wednesday is sinking deeper into crisis in the final stretch of the championship. The team cannot establish stability and after 43 rounds is settled in 15th place with 53 points. The last few weeks have been a real test for the Owls: without a win in five consecutive matches (three defeats and two draws), the club is losing pace and confidence.
Particularly painful was the recent trip to Stoke City, where Sheffield again left the field without points, losing 0-2. A weak defense, having already conceded 66 goals this season, remains one of the main weak points of the team—scoring 56 creates a noticeable imbalance. Hillsborough this season also does not provide the desired advantage. Only 5 wins in 21 home matches with 7 draws and 9 losses is a figure that does not inspire optimism.
Middlesbrough is gaining form and looks much more confident compared to their opponents in recent weeks. Currently, the team is in 7th position in the Championship with 63 points and continues to fight for a playoff spot. To achieve their goal, Boro needs to finish the season strongly.
Recent results of the team inspire optimism: three wins in the last five matches across all competitions. In the last round, the team secured a home victory over Plymouth (2-1), demonstrating their ability to deliver results in crucial moments. In away games, Middlesbrough shows stability, having secured 7 wins, 4 draws, and suffered 10 losses.
Probable lineups
- Sheffield Wednesday: Charles – Sancho, Iorfa, Famewo, Johnson – Charles, Bannan, Gassama, Windass, Ingolsson – Smith
- Middlesbrough: Tracers, Dijksteel, Howson, Neto Borges, Ayling, Morris, Hackney, Burgzorg, Azaz, Conway, Iheanacho
Match facts and head-to-head
- In the first round, the opponents played to a 3-3 draw at Middlesbrough's field
- The bet on "Both teams to score" hit in 4 out of 5 matches
- The option "Total over 2.5" hit in three out of five matches
Prediction
The Boro look significantly better right now, and bookmakers rightly consider them slight favorites for the meeting. We believe it is worth taking "Middlesbrough to win with a handicap (0)" at odds of 1.65.
